KOTA KINABALU: Fund receipts from Japan for the purchase of land for wildlife conservation under the “Green Corridor Project” in the Lower Kinabatangan region for the 2008 to October 2019 period totalled more than RM4.6 million.

Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Augustine Tuuga
said statistics provided by BCT Sabah showed that 38 lots covering an area of
93 hectares (or 230 acres) were purchased by BCT Japan and Saraya through BCT
Sabah under the BCT Land Acquisition exercise.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew, who chaired
the meeting, said it was to pave the way for the official handing over of the
land titles to the State Government (which was executed on Oct 8).

Liew (4th from right), flanked by William (on her left) and Yusuke, and other government and BCT officials after the lunch meeting

BCT Japan is a conservation partner of BCT Sabah. BCT
Sabah is the Trustee for the lands bought with contributions from BCT Japan and
Saraya.

BCT Sabah and BCT Japan) were established in 2006 and
2008 respectively, with a view to working with the State Government on wildlife
conservation in efforts to save endangered species (through the Sabah Wildlife
Department). One such effort is to restore Sabah’s wildlife corridors (also
known as wildlife habitats).

BCT Sabah is a non-profit NGO incorporated under the
Trustee’s Ordinance 1951, Cap – 148 (Sabah). BCT Japan is a non-profit
corporation dedicated to establishing environmental sustainability for human
co-existence with nature, and to preserving nature for future generations
through nature protection activities.

At the meeting attended by the President of Saraya Co.,
Ltd, Yusuke Saraya, who is a trustee of BCT Sabah, and BCT Japan Director
Ishida Osamu, Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment,
said the State Government will duly recognise the noble cause championed by
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in protecting and conserving wildlife in
Sabah.

She noted that BCT Japan and Sabah Wildlife Department
have worked together to implement conservation measures recommended in the
Species Action Plan, which was developed in 2010.

“I am aware that Saraya and BCT Japan had also
contributed towards the construction of the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES)
Centre in Kinabatangan, administration and upgrading of the Centre as well as
elephant rescue operations from 2006 to the current year,” Liew added.

Giving a background of his company’s (Saraya’s)
involvement in wildlife conservation in Sabah, Yusuke said the starting-point
was in 2004 when Saraya decided to assist the Sabah Wildlife Department in the
rescue of injured elephants, followed by their treatment and eventual release
into their natural habitat.

Among those who attended the meeting were the Ministry’s
Permanent Secretary Datuk William Baya, BCT Japan Local Coordinator, Yuko Kishi
and BCT Sabah Executive Secretary, Jessel Maluda. Also present were the Deputy
Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Jum Rafiah Abd Sukor and BCT Sabah Head
of Research & Conservation, Jimmy Omar.

Meanwhile, Yusuke commended the Minister for her proposal
to convert the Green Corridor (acquired lands) into an Elephant Food Corridor
and have it gazetted as part of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary for the
benefit of future generations.

“This is an advancement from our original plan to
protect and conserve wildlife in Sabah,” he said. One of BCT Japan’s
initiatives is the “Green Corridor Project” (2008-2019) which aims to
connect small remaining patches of forest areas to create one large, continuous
ecosystem in the Lower Kinabatangan region.

Liew had reiterated that the proposed Elephant Food
Corridor should serve to connect the key habitats (some of which are fragmented
habitats) for orangutans, proboscis monkeys, Borneo pygmy elephants and other
wildlife species (as just one Wildlife Food Corridor) in the Lower Kinabatangan
region. Some of these animals are on the brink of extinction.

She had also stressed that government leaders come and go
but good policies should remain, adding “Even if there is any change in
the future, it should be for betterment”.